Young defender Michael Richens has signed a 3-year professional at Championship Peterborough United.
17-year-old Richens joined Posh from non-league Luton Town in 2010 and following some impressive displays for the youth team last season and a good display during the recent pre-season training camp in Portugal where he teamed up with the first team, Posh boss Darren Ferguson has awarded the right-back with a 3-year contract.
‘I am pleased we have got it done. Michael is a lad that has progressed very well, he has had an excellent pre-season and is a player with potential,’ confirmed Ferguson.
‘He is physically strong, probably stronger than others at his age and in Holland he played in midfield as well and impressed so that is another string to his bow.
‘I don’t give professional contracts out willy-nilly, we award deals to players with potential and it is up to us as coaches to develop them while they are with us. Michael is a nice lad as well and he was really pleased.’ Ferguson continued.
Academy Manager Dave Robertson added: ‘Michael has been with us two years now and has developed as a player over that time very well. I am over the moon for the lad because he deserves the contract for his attitude and determination.’
Richens almost joined Blue Square Bet Premier side Kettering Town on loan last season but the deal fell through when the Poppies were placed under a player registration embargo.
It is widely expected he’ll go out on loan to gain much needed first team experience during the forthcoming season.
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony’s vision of having a certain number of players in the first team that have come up through the youth ranks seems to be panning out well.
Joe Newell, Charlie Coulson and Kgosi Ntlhe all made their first team debuts last season while Peter Grant featured on the bench in the latter games of last season. Newell and Ntlhe are both expected to be involved throughout the season.
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